One of
the requirements before
you can work in the
medical field in New
Zealand is to be
proficient in English.
If your secondary
schooling was not in
English, you must have
your English skills
assessed by the
International English
Language Testing System
(IELTS). You will have
to show proof of your
proficiency in English.
If you can not show
proof of your English
proficiency, you will
need to sit the IELTS
test. If you are not
sure whether or not you
will pass the IETLS, we
recommend you to book
yourself into a course.

English
Requirements for
Nurses in New
Zealand
The Nursing
Council of New
Zealand will
usually require
overseas
applicants to
demonstrate
their ability to
communicate in
and comprehend
English.
Applicants will
be notified
whether they
must provide
evidence of
their ability to
communicate in
and comprehend
English after
their
applications
have been
assessed.

The Council will
accept any of
the following as
evidence:

You must forward
original
documentary
evidence of an
English Language
Assessment to
the Nursing
Council with
your
application. We
will verify this
with the
relevant testing
authority.

You
must achieve
a score of
seven (7) in
all areas of
the
International
English
Language
Testing
System (IELTS)
(Academic
Test); or

You must
achieve a B
pass in all
areas of the
Occupational
English Test
(OET)

The IELTS
scores of 7
in each band
do not need
to be
achieved in
a single
sitting of
the test.
You may
choose to
sit the test
more than
once and
gain the
necessary
scores over
a series of
tests. The
total of
seven in
each band
must be
achieved
within 12
months of
first
sitting the
test.

You can take
the test
either
onshore or
offshore.
(We strongly
recommend
you complete
this test
before
emigrating
to New
Zealand).

The English
Language

English
Requirements for
Midwives in New
Zealand

If English is
not your first
language then
you must sit the
International
English Language
Testing System (IELTS)
Academic Test in
the Academic
Module, and
achieve an
overall pass
rate of no less
than 7.5, with
no less than 7
in each band.

You can apply
for an exemption
from this
requirement if
you can show
with certainty
that you are an
effective
communicator in
English.
Application for
exemption will
be considered on
a caseby- case
basis.

English
Requirements for
Doctors, Medical
Staff and Allied
Health
Professionals in
New Zealand
Medical
Professionals
will be required
to have achieved
an overall band
of 7.5 or above
in the academic
module of
International
English Language
Testing System (IELTS)
Academic Test,
within the last:
two years for
new applicants
A minimum band
of 7 is required
in each of the
four individual
components of
the test
(listening,
reading, writing
and speaking).
The Test of
English as a
Foreign Language
(TOEFL) and
Occupational
English Test (OET)
are not accepted
by the Council
as alternatives
to IELTS.

IELTS is the
only English
test approved by
the Medical
Council of New
Zealand.
Doctors can wave
the IELTS test
if they can show
proof of three
or more years of
work experience
in a country
where English is
the main
language.